Reconnaissance survey of terrestrial invertebrates in the American Memorial Park, Saipan, CNMI
Starmer J (ed). 2007. Reconnaissance survey of terrestrial invertebrates in the American Memorial Park, Saipan, CNMI. Ecological assessment of the mangrove habitat in the American Memorial Park, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. PMRI Survey Report 2007-2. Pacific Marine Resources Institute. Saipan, CNMI
The following survey is intended to provide an initial understanding of the terrestrial arthropod and mollusk diversity and the distribution of this diversity among forest types at the American Memorial Park (AMP) on Saipan. The main motivation behind this survey is the discovery of Partula gibba snails in the forest adjacent to the AMP in 2003 and their apparent precipitous decline. An understanding of the distribution of invertebrate diversity will also provide a sense of the importance of specific forest types to maintaining diversity within AMP. Plastic cup and aluminum pan traps with isopropyl alcohol were deployed at transect stations. Additionally surface litter samples were taken and foliage beatings were conducted. While Partula gibba snails were common in the Forest along the road to Smiling Cove in 2003, a single snail was found (on an Asplenium fern) during a search in 2005. This survey suggests that while overall diversity is low within the American Memorial Park, it does hold some potentially important ecological resources that are in need of further investigation. With the exception of land crabs and hermit crabs, the diversity and abundance of terrestrial arthropods in the AMP was surprisingly low.
- Type
- Published Report
- Date of Issue
- 2007-06
- Publisher
- Pacific Marine Resources Institute
- Units
- AMME , PACN
- Keywords
- Absence (Biodiversity), Arthropods, Invertebrates, Mangrove, Mollusks, Observations, Partula gibba snail, Presence (Biodiversity), Threatened-Endangered-Sensitive Animals, Wetland/Riparian